130.5 per 100K
766:1 · 24 providers
Alaska 151.2 · US 119.6
Medicare-enrolled: 8% (CMS Doctors & Clinicians, August 2026)
HRSA AHRF benchmark: 15 (2023 data, AHRF 2024-2025)
Find primary care physicians in Bethel Census Area →Ltrl Health Data
Bethel Census Area, AK
Healthcare providers per resident, insurance coverage and preventive care, with state and US comparisons.
Population 18,391 (Census, 2025)Provider data: NPPES, October 2026FIPS 02050
Healthcare providers
Dentists
168.6 per 100K
593:1 · 31 providers
Alaska 111.1 · US 80.5
Medicare-enrolled: 3% (CMS Doctors & Clinicians, August 2026)
HRSA AHRF benchmark: 32 (2024 data, AHRF 2024-2025)
Find dentists in Bethel Census Area →Mental health providers
2767.7 per 100K
36:1 · 509 providers
Alaska 876.6 · US 396.3
Medicare-enrolled: 1% (CMS Doctors & Clinicians, August 2026)
Find mental health providers in Bethel Census Area →Other primary care providers
244.7 per 100K
409:1 · 45 providers
Alaska 199.2 · US 169.7
Medicare-enrolled: 13% (CMS Doctors & Clinicians, August 2026)
Find other primary care providers in Bethel Census Area →Primary care physicians
| Measure | Providers | Per 100,000 | Residents per provider | Alaska | US | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dentists Medicare-enrolled: 3% (CMS Doctors & Clinicians, August 2026) HRSA AHRF benchmark: 32 (2024 data, AHRF 2024-2025) Find dentists in Bethel Census Area → | 31 | 168.6 | 593:1 | 111.1 | 80.5 | |
| Mental health providers Medicare-enrolled: 1% (CMS Doctors & Clinicians, August 2026) Find mental health providers in Bethel Census Area → | 509 | 2767.7 | 36:1 | 876.6 | 396.3 | |
| Other primary care providers Medicare-enrolled: 13% (CMS Doctors & Clinicians, August 2026) Find other primary care providers in Bethel Census Area → | 45 | 244.7 | 409:1 | 199.2 | 169.7 | |
| Primary care physicians Medicare-enrolled: 8% (CMS Doctors & Clinicians, August 2026) HRSA AHRF benchmark: 15 (2023 data, AHRF 2024-2025) Find primary care physicians in Bethel Census Area → | 24 | 130.5 | 766:1 | 151.2 | 119.6 |
Trend: June 2021 to October 2026. State and US figures are pooled (total providers ÷ total population) for the same period.
Coverage and preventive care
Flu vaccinations3.0%
Alaska 29.0% · US 44.0% · CMS Office of Minority Health, Mapping Medicare Disparities Tool, 2023
Alaska 33.0% · US 36.0% · CMS Office of Minority Health, Mapping Medicare Disparities Tool, 2023
Alaska 2,100 · US 2,769 · CMS Office of Minority Health, Mapping Medicare Disparities Tool, 2023
Uninsured (under 65)15.0%
Alaska 12.5% · US — · U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Health Insurance Estimates (SAHIE), 2024
Alaska 14.2% · US — · U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Health Insurance Estimates (SAHIE), 2024
Alaska 8.3% · US — · U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Health Insurance Estimates (SAHIE), 2024
| Measure | Bethel Census Area | Alaska | US | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flu vaccinations | 3.0% | 29.0% | 44.0% | CMS Office of Minority Health, Mapping Medicare Disparities Tool, 2023 |
| Mammography screening | 5.0% | 33.0% | 36.0% | CMS Office of Minority Health, Mapping Medicare Disparities Tool, 2023 |
| Preventable hospital stays | 2,898 | 2,100 | 2,769 | CMS Office of Minority Health, Mapping Medicare Disparities Tool, 2023 |
| Uninsured (under 65) | 15.0% | 12.5% | — | U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Health Insurance Estimates (SAHIE), 2024 |
| Uninsured adults (18–64) | 19.7% | 14.2% | — | U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Health Insurance Estimates (SAHIE), 2024 |
| Uninsured children (under 19) | 7.8% | 8.3% | — | U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Health Insurance Estimates (SAHIE), 2024 |
Clinicians needed?
Supply and demand
- Population: 18,672 in 2020, 18,391 in 2025 (-1.5%).
- Primary care physicians: 20 in 2021, 24 now (+20.0%), 130.5 per 100,000 residents (US 119.6).
- Residents 65 and older: 1,538 (Census ACS, 2024).
- Median household income: $73,996 (Census ACS, 2024).
- Rurality: Nonmetro, urban population 5,000–20,000, not next to a metro area (USDA, 2023).
Health Professional Shortage Area designations
- Primary care: All of Bethel Census Area is a designated shortage area; 43 facilities are designated (highest score 20).
- Mental health: All of Bethel Census Area is a designated shortage area; 43 facilities are designated (highest score 21).
- Dental: All of Bethel Census Area is a designated shortage area; 43 facilities are designated (highest score 26).
Per HRSA, as of November 4, 2026. Designations change, and HRSA is the authority (HPSA Find).
Programs for clinicians in designated areas
- Medicare HPSA bonus. Medicare pays a 10% bonus for physicians' services in geographic primary care and mental health HPSAs. CMS (checked October 21, 2026)
- NHSC Loan Repayment Program. The 2026 cycle offered up to $80,000 for two years of full-time primary care service at an NHSC-approved site in an HPSA (up to $55,000 in other disciplines). Terms for the next cycle are not yet published. HRSA (checked October 21, 2026)
- State loan repayment programs. HRSA funds state-run loan repayment programs for clinicians in shortage areas. Which states have awards, and their terms, vary by cycle. HRSA (checked October 21, 2026)
Practice here, or thinking about it?
Shortage areas can cover part of a county. Check the exact designation status of your practice address. Free with a Ltrl clinician account.
These are public facts, not a recommendation about where to practice. See also where population growth has outrun primary care.
Link to or cite this page
Replacing a County Health Rankings link? This page has the same provider and access measures for Bethel Census Area, updated monthly. Copy the link below.
Link to this page
https://ltrl.com/research/workforce/alaska/bethel-census-areaCite this page
Ltrl Health Data. Bethel Census Area, AK: healthcare providers and access. Data as of October 2026. https://ltrl.com/research/workforce/alaska/bethel-census-area
Download the data
Free to use. Please credit Ltrl Health Data with a link to this page.
Nearby counties
Registered, not necessarily practicing. Provider counts come from the national provider registry (NPPES): active individual clinicians, counted once under their primary specialty at their practice-location county. Some registered clinicians are retired or see few patients. Counts under 10, or places with fewer than 10,000 residents, are flagged and left out of rankings. Nothing is estimated or imputed. Methodology
Sources: NPPES (CMS), October 2026; Census population estimates; Census SAHIE; CMS Mapping Medicare Disparities; HRSA shortage designations; Census ACS; USDA rural-urban codes. Ltrl is not affiliated with County Health Rankings & Roadmaps.